Head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman attended to Vikings receiver Percy Harvin in the third quarter after his ankle was injured. Harvin caught only two passes for 10 yards.

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

Harvin's hamstring, ankle ailing as much as offense

Article by: MARK CRAIG

Star Tribune

November 5, 2012 - 12:00 AM

SEATTLE - Add Percy Harvin's nagging right hamstring and newly sprained left ankle to the list of problems facing the Vikings' anemic passing attack heading into next Sunday's game against Detroit at Mall of America Field.

"We'll do further evaluations on Monday," said Harvin, using six words that should frighten a team that had 44 net yards passing in a 30-20 loss to Seattle at CenturyLink Field.

Harvin played half the game despite a tight right hamstring that has been bothering him for a while and most of the final quarter with the additional burden of a sprained left ankle. He came into the game leading the league in receptions but was limited to two catches for 10 yards, one kickoff return for 39 yards and four carries for 24 yards and a fumble that led to a 17-yard touchdown drive by Seattle.

Harvin also said "I'm fine" when asked about his injuries, but he clearly wasn't. Even though he showed once again how tough he is by playing on, he had no chance of catching a key fourth-quarter pass on third-and-5 with the Vikings trailing by a touchdown.

"My ankle just gave out on me on that one," Harvin said.

Harvin's hamstring became too much of a problem after he caught a 9-yard pass on the Vikings' first offensive snap of the second half. He went to the sideline for the rest of that series.

He returned late in the quarter but had his ankle rolled while being tackled by linebacker Bobby Wagner and safety Earl Thomas. The injury appeared to be serious as Harvin writhed on the ground.

Minutes later, he was on the sideline jogging. When it was announced to reporters that Harvin's return was "questionable," he was standing in the huddle with 13:43 left in the game. But he was targeted only twice more, including the time his ankle gave out on third-and-5 and a deep ball that he couldn't fight for and was intercepted.

Harvin's frustration with the offense is obvious. And it was there for everyone to see when he was spotted having an animated discussion with coach Leslie Frazier on the sideline after the Vikings had to settle for a field goal in the second quarter. Harvin wouldn't elaborate, but he clearly was upset.

"I just want to score points," Harvin said. "It's frustrating not scoring [touchdowns], so it's a little frustration. I'm not going to talk about what the coach and I discussed. We had a conversation in the heat of the moment, trying to get things right."

Frazier downplayed the exchange as well.

"Just like the rest of our team, he wants to win," Frazier said. "He was frustrated, as we all were at that moment. He is a competitor. We're all frustrated, we're all trying to come away with touchdowns instead of field goals."

Just imagine that frustration if Harvin's hamstring and ankle aren't ready to go by next Sunday.